Teotihuacan: City of the Gods
In the heart of Mexico lies the ancient city of Teotihuacan, often referred to as the City of the Gods.
This magnificent archaeological site, which dates back to the first half of the first millennium AD, captivates visitors with its grand pyramids and intricate urban layout.
Teotihuacan’s origins are actually somewhat shrouded in mystery. Archaeological evidence suggests that the city was however, built around 400 BC, reaching its zenith between the 1st and 7th centuries AD.
At its peak, it was one of the largest cities in the world at the time, boasting a population of around 125,000.
The city’s layout was sophisticated, featuring a grid-like pattern intersected by the Avenue of the Dead, a broad, central roadway stretching over 2.5 kilometres.
The Pyramid of the Sun, the crowning glory of Teotihuacan, stands as an awe-inspiring example of ancient architectural achievement.
Its colossal size and precision in construction have intrigued scholars for decades.
Measuring an impressive 225 meters on each side at its base and soaring to a height of 75 meters, this pyramid is not just the largest structure in Teotihuacan but also one of the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
The construction techniques used to build the Pyramid of the Sun reflect a high degree of sophistication.
The pyramid was built in two phases, with the initial construction around 200 AD followed by an expansion that gave it its final size.
This construction involved the meticulous stacking and fitting of multi-ton stones without the aid of metal tools, wheel, or draft animals.
The interior of the pyramid also consists of a series of layered platforms, filled with rubble and topped with adobe, which speak to the builders’ understanding of structural stability.
Beneath the pyramid also lies a mysterious cave — discovered in the 1970s.
This cave, extending approximately 100 meters inward, is believed to have held great religious importance.
Some scholars speculate that it was a focal point for rituals and ceremonies, perhaps even the site where the city’s rulers communicated with deities or ancestors.
This aligns with Mesoamerican beliefs that caves served as gateways to the underworld.
Standing at the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead, is the Pyramid of the Moon, which measures about 150 meters on each side at its base and 43 meters in height.
Unlike the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon was constructed to align with Cerro Gordo, a mountain that held spiritual significance for the people of Teotihuacan.
What sets the Pyramid of the Moon apart is its complex structure and artistic embellishments.
The pyramid’s platform is adorned with intricate sculptures and carvings, depicting various deities and symbolic motifs.
These artistic elements provide insight into the religious beliefs and ceremonial practices of the Teotihuacan people.
The arrangement and construction of the Pyramid of the Moon also suggest it played a significant role in Teotihuacan’s urban design.
The pyramid and the surrounding plazas, for example, were likely used for public and religious ceremonies, serving as a gathering place for the city’s inhabitants.
Both the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon were integral to the religious and ceremonial life in Teotihuacan.
Their alignment and design reflect the city’s deep connection with celestial phenomena.
The pyramids likely also functioned as massive altars or platforms for rituals aligned with solar and lunar cycles, emphasising the importance of astronomy and cosmology in Teotihuacan’s culture.
The pyramids’ orientation with the sun and moon, along with the discovery of numerous sacrificial remains and artefacts, also underscores their role as sacred sites.
These structures were embodiments of Teotihuacan’s spiritual landscape, mirroring the celestial bodies they were named after and connecting the inhabitants of the city with the cosmos.
Also significant to Teotihuacan’s story, is the Temple of Quetzalcoatl.
Known as the Feathered Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, is one of the most prominent and enduring deities in Mesoamerican cultures, and his presence in Teotihuacan’s art and religious life is profoundly significant.
Often depicted as a serpent adorned with the vibrant plumage of the quetzal bird, this diety symbolises a range of concepts including creation, fertility, and the boundaries between the earth and the sky.
In Teotihuacan, the imagery of Quetzalcoatl is prevalent and is thought to have played a central role in the city’s religious practices, with the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, also known as the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, a prime example of this.
Located at the southern end of the Avenue of the Dead, the temple is adorned with numerous representations of the Feathered Serpent, indicating the deity’s immense importance in the religious hierarchy of Teotihuacan.
The influence of Quetzalcoatl extended well beyond the boundaries of Teotihuacan too.
In later Mesoamerican civilisations, including the Toltecs and the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was revered as a creator god and a bringer of knowledge and culture.
The Aztecs, in particular, incorporated Quetzalcoatl into their pantheon, blending the Teotihuacan deity with their own religious beliefs.
The legacy of Quetzalcoatl is also evident in the myths and legends of these later cultures, with the Aztecs, for example, believing that Quetzalcoatl was responsible for the creation of humanity and played a crucial role in the organisation of the cosmos.
This enduring mythological figure not only highlights the religious continuity in Mesoamerican history but also underscores the far-reaching influence of Teotihuacan’s cultural and religious ideas.
